System of electrical distribution



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

E. P. THOMPSON. SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

No. 403,308. Patented May 14, 1889.

Fig- 2.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. P. THOMPSON. SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

No. 403,308. Patented May 14, 1889.

AT'TES'T f WM (No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet s.

E. P. THOMPSON. SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

No. 403,308, Patented May 14, 1889.

Fig-7- INVENTU Edward 21720779080) ATTEST:

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. P. THOMPSON.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

No. 403,308. Patented May 14, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ED IVARD P. THOMPSON, OF ElilZi ill LTll, XEIF JERSEY.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,308, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed March 18, 1887. Serial No. 231,374. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwan'o P. Tnonrson, a citizen of the United States, residing in Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful In'iprovenicnts in Systems of Electrical Distribution, oi which the following is a specilication.

The invention relates to the class of electric circuits in which electric converters are employed for transforming currents of high potential into currents of a potential suited to operate the various translating devices connected therewith.

The object of the invention is to provide convenient means for introducing the circuits into buildings and sub-stations and transforming the currents at or near the points where they are to be consumed; and it involves various improvements relating to the circuitcouncctions and to the apparatus employed.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a wall of a building provided with circuit-controlling devices for the purposes of this invention, and Fig. 2 shows a converter in position. Figs. 3, 4t, 5, and (3 illustrate modilicatioi'is. Fig. 7 illustrates a lamp equipped with a converter, and hi 8 shows a modified form of circuit-closer. Fig. 9 illustrates certain details olcircuitconncctions ol' the converter.

Referring to the figures, l and 2 represent suitable conductoi s extending from a suitable source of alternating or intermittent electric currents. These cond uctcrs are derived from mains cxtendin g into greater or less proximity to a building, the wall of which is represented at B.

The conductors 1 and 2 are led in any convenient manner-ms, for instance, through a branch conduit, h-to the wall B, and they are connected with suitable contact plates or springs, c and c constituting terminals, with which an electric converter, 0, is designed to be connected when it is desired. The terminals c and extend within an aperture, D, formed in the wall 13. This aperture is located at any convenient pointas, for instance, in the foundatioirwall, or, if desired, .in the ceiling. The terminals 1: and c are normally out of contact with each other; but should it be desired to close the circuit between the conductors 1 and 2 for any reason a circuit-closing plug, E, is employed. This plug has two metallic surfaces, 6 and c in electric connection with each other through a metallic connection, c, passing through the central portion of the plug, the body of which is formed of insulated material. 3 y inserting the plug with these two surfaces against the respective springs c and c the circuit-connections will be completed. This device may be employed when converters are connected in series; but ordinarily it will be desirable to allow the circuit to remain open, except when the converter is in place. The plug jhl may then be employed by turning it so that nonconducting surfaces are against the springs c and c". The plug is provided with two openings or staples, c and c, which per mit it to be locked with a staple, in the wall by means of a padlock or other equivalent device, c". This will prevent the plug l'roin bein g accidentally turned or withdrawn. It may not always be necessary to employ the plug, as the springs are normally out of contact. When the plug is not employed, the opmiing may be covered bya cloth or paper, or a membrane secured over it, as shown in Figs. 3 and, i. It will be found convenient to apply to either this membrane or to the handle of the plug a danger-signal. adapted to serve as a warning against unauthorized interference with the device.

The converter 0 is of any suitable character. The terminals ot' primary coil are led to suitable coiitact-platcs, f" and f iarricd upon a block, f, of conducting material,which is socured to the converter or its case and forms a part of the complete device. The plates j and are then connected with each other through the primary coil (it the converter, and by inserting the block f into the aperture 13 the primary coil of the converter will be placed in the circuit between the conductors 1 and It may be found convenient to employ athird conductor, f extending through the block f at right angles to the line of the plates f and f so that by turning the plug one-quarter way around a short circuit may be formed between the plates should. it be desired for any rcasmi. lt is designed that TOO the convertcrshall be placed upon a suitable shelf or support, H, extending from the wall beneath the aperture D, and this will serve to hold it in position.

' WVhere the opening is designed to be covered by a membrane or cloth, it may be desirable to construct the plug fwith a pointed end, as shown in Fig. 5, which will serve to readily break through the membrane and allow the plug to enter. In some instances where the membrane is used it will be desirable to insert a short plug of non-conducting material, as shown at 70 in Fig. 6, between the springs. When the plug f is inserted, the short plug 70 is pushed from between the springs, and it may be allowed to drop out through a recess and opening shown at 75 and k in Fig. (5. The plugs fare preferably provided with collars t, which determine the distance that the blocks shall be inserted.

The secondary coils of the converter lead to suitable binding-posts or circuit-closing points, m m Figs. 2 and 5. These may be constructed to receive the terminals of an electric lamp, for instance, as shown in Fig. 7. In this instance an electric-light socket is secured directly to the converter or its case and the lamp is held thereby. In such construction it will be understood that the converter is to be of such size as will adapt it to deliver at the terminals of the secondary coil currents of the potential required for operating the single translating device. In other instances, however, additional translating devices may be connected therewith in a well-known manner. A convenient construction, however, is secured by making the incandescent lamp in the same mechanical structure with the converter, so that the entire device may be placed in circuit by one operation.

In Fig. 8 there is shown such a complete device. In this instance a switch, 91., serves to open and close the circuit of the secondary coil in any well-known manner, while the second switch, 01., serves to vary the number of convolutions or the amount of active wire connected in either the primary or secondary coil for the purpose of varying the work perform ed.

In Fig. 9 are shown the electrical connections to the switch n, described above in reference to Fig. 8. u represents one of the coils of the converter. '1) shows contact-blocks electrically connected to different convolutions of the said coil and located in the path of the switch at, so that when the latter is turned to the left additional convolutions will become included in circuit and form a part of the when the circuit is closed or interrupted by the insertion or withdrawal of the circuitclosing block f of the converter, it maybe desirable to connect one of the conductors, through a series of resistances, r r, with contact-plates r r, with which the conductingsurface f will make successive contact as the block f is inserted. WVhen the converter is placed in position, these resistances are of such capacity as to reduce the amount of current, which will first traverse the converter to so great an extent as to prevent any danger or injury from the sparks which occur when the circuit is first closed or interrupted.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with an electric converter, of a circuit-closing plug carried thereby, contaet-plates upon said plug connected with the respective terminals of one of the coils of the converter, and a short-circuiting contact carried by said plug.

2. The combination, with an electric converter, of a circuit-closing plug carried thereby, contact-plates upon said plug connected with the respective terminals of one of the coils of the converter, and an electric-lamp socket carried by said converter.

3. An electric converter, means for forming electrical connections with the primary coil of the same, and an electric-light socket carried upon the converter in which the terminals of the secondary coil terminate.

4. The combination,with the wall of a building having an aperture and the terminals of an electric circuit placed within said aperture and insulated from each other, of a sliding plug between the terminals and a covering for the aperture closing the same, said wall having a second aperture beneath the first for receiving said plug when pushed from between said terminals.

5. The combination, with an electric converter, of an electric-light socket supported thereby and connected therewith and a regulator serving to modify the length of one of the coils of the converter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of February,

EDWARD P. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

DANL. W. EDGEOOMB, CHARLES A. TERRY. 

